Electric conductor



(No ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. DAFT.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

No. 385,915. Patented July 10 1888.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. DAFT.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

No. 385,915. Patented July k O 1888.

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UNTTE STATES LEO DAF'I, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 385,915, dated July 10, 1888.

Application filed December 9.9, 1886. Serial No. 222.833.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEO Drirr, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and resident of Plainiield, Union county, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of electrical conductors which are supported in elevated positions above a surface roadway, either an ordinary road or a tramway or a railway, for the purpose of guiding trolleys or travelers, through which the current passes from the conductors to a flexible conductor extending to motors upon cars or vehicles traveling upon the surface way; and my invention consists in means whereby said trolleys may be conducted from the main way to branch ways in accordance with the movements of the vehicles, and whereby the trolleys may be switched, as desired, by devices accessible from the surface road, all as set forth hereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing the support for the overhead conductors and switchactuating appliances; Fig. 2, a side view of one of the trolleys; Fig. 3, a plan view of the switch portion of the track and switch operating appliances; Fig. 4, a detached view of the switch-railjoint; Fig. 5, a section on the line 1 2, Fig. 3; Fig. 6, an enlarged View of the switclrrail carrier and support.

In the particular construction of electrical conductors shown in the drawings it consists of two parallel rails or rods, 0 1) supported upon the transverse bars 3 of standards 4, or in any suitable manner overhead. The particular construction of the supports, however, and the manner of holding therailsin position along the main portion of the track may be varied as found convenient, and constitutes no part of this application for Letters Patent.

Upon the conductor or conductors moves a trolley or carriage, .V, which is provided with two pairs of wheels, 5 5 G 6, each deeply grooved, so that when the trolley rests upon the conductor there will be no chance of the same being derailed, and the wheels are in electrical connection with the frame of the trolley, to which a flexible conductor, F, is connected, the said flexible conductor being adapted for electrical attachment with the motor upon the tram car or carriage X, which (No model.)

travels upon the tram-rails w m in the street or roadway below and parallel with the conductors.

At these points where the car must leave the main tram-track and pass onto a branch, I provide above and parallel with the branch tramtrack a branch conductor-track consisting of conductor'rails O I), supported oven head in a like manner as the main rails, and in the line of the main rails I place a switchsection consisting of two rails, c d, constituting switch-rails, each hinged or pivoted at one end orotherwise flexibly connected with a stationary section of the main track and free to move laterally to the opposite end, so as to be brought in line with the rails of the other section of the main track or of the branch track, accordingly as the trolley must travel straight on with the car upon the main tramway or pass onto the branch tramway.

The manner in which the pivoted connection of each switch-rail with the main rail is made is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, in which N represents a metallic chair or part of a bracket recessed to receive the end of the main rail 0 or D, which projects above its support and terminates adj acentto the point where the switchrail c or d is pivoted. The said switchrail has a web, 6', extending at the upper end into a cylindrical tread, 7, and at the lower edge and end of the web is asocketed enlargement, S, threaded to receive the threaded end of a bolt or pintle, 9, which fits nicely a vertical socket in a lug, 10, projecting from the bracket or support N. Then the parts are in position, as shown in Fig. 4, the bolt 9 holds the switch-rail in its vertical position, permitting it to swing freely to one side or the other, as is required, to bring the opposite end of the rail into coincidence with either the end of the rail of the main portion or that of the branch portion of the conducting-track.

In order to swing the free ends of the switchrails properly from one side to the other and retain them in either position without danger of displacement, and to effect the proper sliding and locking ofthc switch-rails from a point below the overhead support, I connect the movable ends of the switch-rails with a slide, K, moved upon suitable guides, and with operating-cords Y Y extending from opposite ends of the said slide around guide-pulleys 12, 18, and 14 to a drum or lever, 15, provided with an operating-handle, 16, and turning the travel of the slide, and the vertical arm 22,

perforated for the passage'of the cord Y,which has upon it two stops, 24c 25.

The stops 24 or 25 are arranged so that when the cord is pulledin the direction of the arrow, Fig. 6, to carry the slide K and the switch-rails supported thereby to the left, the stop 24 will contact with the arm 22 and swing back the catch-lever P to disconnect it from the catch 21, after which the continued movements of the cord will carry the slide to the left until the catch of the lever P engages with the adjacent catch, 21. Upon a reverse movement of the cord the stop 24 will be carried away from the lever P and the stop 25 will contact with and tilt the lever I so as to disengage this lever from the adjacent and stationary catch, after which the slide will move in the opposite direction.

A spring, 26, acts upon each lever P P, so as to insure its engagement with the catch, the corresponding ends of the catchesbeing' beveled, so that each moving catch will slide over the stationary catch until the shoulders engage. In order to prevent detrimental shocks as the slide K is quickly carried to one position or the other, I interpose a spring, 8, be-

tween each end of the slide and the suitableconnection which will accommodate itself tothe different positions of the slide and rail. Thus a bracket, F, is pivotally secured at 10 to the slide, so as to turn upon said pivot, and is provided with an arm, 33, terminating in a cross-head, 34, which has a longitudinal opening or groove for the passage of the switch-rail. 'When the slide is in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 3, each bracket is at right angles to the line of the main rails; but as the slide is moved toward the position shown in dotted lines each bracket swings, maintaining its right-angled position to the switch-rail which it supports, which switchrail slides through the socket in the bracket, so that it is supported thereby in whatever position it takes so firmly that it cannot posupon which the ends of the switch-rails.

travel, and although I have described certain effective means, as the operatingcord, for shifting the slide, I do not limit myself to these means, as others may be employed-as, for instance, a system of levers or other devices.

It will of course be understood that the main branch and switch rails are suitably insulated from the supports, so that thereis no electrical connection of the rails at any point with said supports.

I have, referred to the overhead conductor as consisting of two parallel rails; but it will be evident that a single switch-rail maybe used in connection with the conductor, consisting of a single rail, a traveler or trolley being adapted to the character of conductor employed. I have shown the supportingbrackets F as consisting ofpendent rods turned up at the ends and socketed to receive the conductors, so as to present an unbroken upper tread, thus avoiding any obstruction or interference with the trolley at the points where the conductors are supported; but supports may be made in any suitable manner. VVithoutlimiting myself to the precise construction and arrangements ofthe parts shown, I elaim 1. The combination, with the main and branch and switch rails, of a slide supporting the movable ends of the switch-rails, provided with catches for engaging with stationary shoulders, a slideactuating device adjacent to the surface road, and connections between the latter and the catches, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the slide carrying the movable switch-rails, of two catchlevers, stationary catches upon the overhead support adapted to engage with said levers, and a cord passing through openings in arms of the-said levers and provided with stops, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the main, branch, and switch rails of an overhead conductor, of a slide provided with pivoted hangers sup porting the ends of the switch rails, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the slide, switchrails, and pivoted hangers, provided with arms having sockets for the reception of the switch-rails, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the slide supporting the switch-rails, locking devices, slide-actuating mechanism, and buffers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEO DAFT.

Witnesses:

JoHN N. BRUNS, FRED H. REED.

ICO

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